I frankly think its irresponsible and facile for anyone to suggest there are no downsides to high doses of Vitamin D. This stuff is available OTC and a lot of folks are just gonna dose themselves ad libitum here.
I think a responsible way to look at vitamin D right now is:
- There was an association shown between low serum levels and bad COVID-19 outcomes, but low vitamin D is an indicator of frailty, so it was how much of this relation was causal.
- Now we have some early data that sure makes it look causal and it seems to be a significant effect, but it's not watertight yet.
- We know that a big fraction of us have low vitamin D levels with other health consequences from it.
- Taking a moderate dose of vitamin D now seems like a reasonable hedge: low risk of health consequences, and a decent chance of health benefits even if it doesn't protect us from the pandemic.
We get 20,000 iu of Vitamin D in like 15 to 30 minutes of sun (if you're pale skinned). Pretty sure taking 5,000 iu every day isn't going to be harmful.
Also, fun side note: Vitamin D is produced as an oil on the skin and actually seeps through your skin overtime to enter the bloodstream. So don't take a shower after getting some sun, because you could be washing off your Vitamin D.
> We get 20,000 iu of Vitamin D in like 15 to 30 minutes of sun (if you're pale skinned). Pretty sure taking 5,000 iu every day isn't going to be harmful.
You cannot overdose on vitamin D from sun exposure because the metabolic process that creates it has a concentration limit.
You CAN overdose (experience toxicity) from too much supplementation. They are not equivalent.
Some people do get toxic side effects from supplementing 5000 IUs a day, over long periods of time.
Interesting, thank you for sharing. Didn't know that. Just what Dr. Hyman recommends in his book, sounds like it's also levels that build up, and there is seasonal sun so maybe years long 5000-10000 IU supplements is overkill and why he recommends 2000 maintenance.
> We get 20,000 iu of Vitamin D in like 15 to 30 minutes of sun (if you're pale skinned). Pretty sure taking 5,000 iu every day isn't going to be harmful.
Sarcasm: Yah, getting it from sun and from a supplement are biologically identical.
You absolutely can get too much vitamin D from a few thousand IU per day for a sustained time.
- There was an association shown between low serum levels and bad COVID-19 outcomes, but low vitamin D is an indicator of frailty, so it was how much of this relation was causal.
- Now we have some early data that sure makes it look causal and it seems to be a significant effect, but it's not watertight yet.
- We know that a big fraction of us have low vitamin D levels with other health consequences from it.
- Taking a moderate dose of vitamin D now seems like a reasonable hedge: low risk of health consequences, and a decent chance of health benefits even if it doesn't protect us from the pandemic.